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09 Mar 2016

The new business programme will help entrepreneurs throughout the region.

CPIT Aoraki is expanding delivery of its highly successful
small business course which had been designed to develop entrepreneurialism
among youths and professionals. The move to expand delivery for the Timaru
based course comes as part of the organisation's drive to provide better
quality and more accessible education to the entire Canterbury region.

"The course is provided online and can be accessed
anywhere," CPIT Aoraki Head of the Department of Business Dr Teresa Schwellnus
says.

The 42 credit Level 4 Certificate in Business Ownership is
aimed at providing students with the business basics necessary to start up and
run their own business. The extremely popular course has been a "winner"
Schwellnus says and would also serve as the basis for additional business
courses which are now in development.

"There is such a need in New Zealand for courses that teach
business basics. Entrepreneurial spirit is part of the New Zealand psyche but
people are afraid to follow their dreams because they don't have the know-how,"
Schwellnus says.

The programme includes business planning, monitoring,
marketing, budgeting and finances, employment law and human resources and is
currently accepting enrolments.

Former Oamaru student Matthew Melton found the programme's
content and flexibility particularly useful.

"I was working as an engineer on private yachts in Spain at
the time and wanted to start my own business. I had heard good things about the
programme and it was great being able to study and work at the same time,"
Melton says.

The programme enables students to fit study around their
other obligations, Schwellnus says. While the programme is aimed largely at
professionals with work experience who want some pointers before starting their
own business, it could also be beneficial to school leavers and other potential
entrepreneurs who have a good idea but want to know how to get started.

"Professionals often don't need a full business course and
often don't have time for it. However learning business fundamentals can save them
time and money and give them the certainty they want before going out to start
their own business," Schwellnus says.

While the introduction of the business course is exciting
news for Christchurch and the Canterbury region, the exchange is going both ways,
South Canterbury based students are getting access to additional programmes as
well as pathways to new specialisations.